As we celebrate the holiday season with loved ones, I am reminded of the many blessings that all of you bring to the patients and families of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Your caring hearts, your commitment, your dedication and your generosity are, quite truly, unsurpassed and mean the world to the children and families who turn to St. Jude for hope and healing after a diagnosis of cancer or another life-threatening disease.
I recently had the honor of seeing those blessings come to life on a remarkable and beautiful December day in Memphis, when 25,000 people took to the streets during the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend to raise funds and awareness for St. Jude. These are people just like you — they came from 49 states and from around the world to participate in one of the races of this special day, bringing with them their passion for the mission of St. Jude: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is incredibly moving to view this sea of caring individuals as they fill the streets, taking step after step for St. Jude.
More than 25,000 people took to the streets during the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend to raise funds and awareness for St. Jude.
But what was especially humbling to me this year was the incredible participation of those closest to the St. Jude mission. More than 800 participants were a St. Jude patient or a family member. More than 140 of our St. Jude Heroes® teams were made up of St. Jude patients and their families.
Patients like Daniel, who took his first baby steps as a patient at St. Jude and returned this year as a young man to run his first marathon. Or Adam, whose fundraising team Adam’s Army has now raised more than $500,000 for St. Jude. Or Chandler, a high-school student not long out of treatment who made good on last year’s promise to run the half marathon in 2017.
But you should know that each and every one of you crossed that finish line on Dec. 2 with Daniel and Adam and Chandler – and with every St. Jude patient and their family. Even if you weren’t in Memphis on that inspiring day, your support makes the lifesaving research of St. Jude possible; your generosity ensures the very best in patient care and treatment.
This holiday season, we celebrate the blessing that you are a part of our St. Jude family. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all that you do for St. Jude, and I wish you the very best in the coming new year.
ALSAC President and CEO Richard J. Shadyac Jr. was one of the 25,000 runners during the Memphis Marathon Weekend, running alongside St. Jude patients like Chandler (featured left in the white cap).
You, too, can make a difference for St. Jude kids.
Read more inspiring stories
-
Plan in Progress: St. Jude celebrates first year of telehealth services in Tupelo
St. Jude is celebrating a successful first year of providing telehealth services for children with chronic hematological diseases in North Mississippi. Read the story.
-
Doggone cute: St. Jude is paw-leased to welcome employees Snuggle and CC
Read about Snuggle and CC, the two newest facility dogs who are enhancing the patient experience at St. Jude.
-
Being A Father is Everything for St. Jude Patient Dad Chris
When Chris' son Calvin got a devastating diagnosis, it was the lifesaving mission of St. Jude that helped ensure his family remained intact.
-
A St. Jude volunteer “meet cute” leads to engagement
Jordan Watson and Kelly Quiroz met at St. Jude while volunteering and recently got engaged to marry.
-
Father’s Day: St. Jude employees share stories of inspiration
To commemorate Father's Day, read four stories of four St. Jude employees who have the unique experience of calling their fathers colleagues.
-
St. Jude kindergarten graduation celebrates aspiring teachers, ballerinas…ninjas
Students in the St. Jude School Program hit a milestone by celebrating their Kindergarten graduation.
-
‘A success on all fronts’
Read how St. Jude volunteers opened the door to health care career possibilities for local eighth graders during an expo at Agricenter International.
-
St. Jude School Program celebrates annual high school commencement
See how St. Jude is honoring 15 students as part of its annual high school commencement. The students completed high school this year while undergoing treatment and managing the ongoing pandemic. Each graduate received a unique St. Jude class ring, hats tassels and other gifts.
-
St. Jude celebrates Mother’s Day with inspirational stories
St. Jude employees take pride in their work and many times, they inspire family members to join the mission. This Mother’s Day, we highlight a few family members who have followed in their mothers’ footsteps.
-
Mentorship is a Two-Way Street
In observance of Women's History Month, Andrea Stubbs discusses the importance of mentorship and support throughout her career.
-
Austin Springer, PhD, receives highest employee honor for pandemic response efforts
For pandemic response efforts in 2021, Human Resources employee receives highest honor bestowed upon St. Jude employees.
-
Why did I get the COVID-19 vaccine? Two St. Jude families share their stories
Two St. Jude families share their reasons for getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
-
Puggle, Huckleberry to depart soon; doggy duo has changed the patient experience
The facility dogs who laid the groundwork for the hospital’s facility dog program are departing soon. Read how they changed the patient experience.
-
Face masks are business as usual at St. Jude
Learn how staff members, patients and families have been wearing masks correctly for decades to protect children and prevent infection.
-
Meet Rosalie: Facility dog to provide employee support
Learn how Rosalie, a golden retriever facility dog, will help support employee resilience. St. Jude has two other facility dogs who support patient care.